Tube-cutting machine.



. PATBNTED OCT. 4, 1904.

F; R. STAPPGRD. TUBE CUTTING MACHINE. APFLLOATIOH rum: JU'SE a. 1903.

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No. 771,752. PATBNTBD OCT. 4, 1904. F. R. STAFFORD. TUBE CUTTINGMACHINE.

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U ITED STATES Patented October 4, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK R. STAFFORD, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO MAINE.

TUBE-CUTTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 771,752, dated October4, 1904. Application filed Juno 8, 1903. Borbllo. 180.547. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK R. STAFFORD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of RhodeIsland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTube-Cutting Machines, of which the fol owing is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Like characters indicate like parts.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a machine by which a tubecan be cut into ferrules or rings without waste.

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of my improved tube-cutting mahine as seen on line as w of Fig. 2,. the tube which is to be cut, thevertical locking-pin, and the guide-rod being ,shown in elevation asseen at the beginning of an operation. Fig. 2 is a view of said machineas seen on line y y of Fig. 1, the tube which is to be cut, thehorizontal locking-pin, the compound telescoping tubes, and cylindricalrod or plug being shown in top plan. of said machine as seen on line a:w of Fig. 2 at the end of an operation. Fig. 4 is a view, partly in topplan and partly in cross-section, as seen on line-z 2 of F g. 3. Fig. 5is a perspective view of said machine. Fig. 6 is an elevation of thefeed-rod and its support. Fig. 7 shows in side elevation the rod orplug, the several tubes, and adjusting-screw. Fig. 8 is a centralvertical section of the feed-rod, the plug, the tube mounted in positionto be cut, and the cutting-collars and their supports. Fig.9 is aperspective view of the ring which is cut by' the operation of saidmachlne.

My invention relates to machines for cutting rings, ferrules, andsimilar articles; and it consists of the novel constructionandcombinationof the several parts,as hereinafter de scribed,andspecifically set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, 1 represents the base of the machine, which has aflange 2, by which it is held to the bench or other support by clamps 3or by other suitable means. Said base has acircular bore through it fromfront to rear, in which is inserted the guiderod 4..

Fig. 3 is a central'vcrtical section Integral with the base 1 is' thestandard 5, which is provided with a vertical guideway 6, whose ends areinwardly beveled convergingly to the rear. in this standard is mounted afixed cutting-collar 7 in a circular aperture made therefor. Thisaperture has a concentric enlargement forming an internal shoulder, andthe fixed collar 7 has a flange on its outer end which is received insaid enlargement of the aperture and abuts said internal shoulders, asseen in Figs. 1, 2, 3. and 8. An opening 8 extends through the lowerportion of the stands rd 5 and allows the ejection of the ring Qafter ithas been out, which is the product of said machine. Upon the base 1 arefastened the two upright sides 10. These upright sides have flanges orfeet 11 and are fastened in position by screws 12, which pass throughthe flanges 11 into the base 1, as seen in Figs. 1 and 4. Each uprightside 10 has a slot 13 therein, the upper part of which slot is verticaland the lower part is angularly directed downward and toward the front,as illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, and 5.

therefor in the head 16 of a press and is fastened in position by apivot 17 or otherwise. The plunger 14 is dovetailed in cross-section, asseen in Figs. 2, 4, and '5, and has a conical transverse bore in whichis fastened a cutting-collar 18, asseen in Figs. '1, 2, 3, and 4. Theplunger 14 has an integral backward extension 19, which is provided witha vertical bore for the reception of a vertical lockingpin 20 and alsowith a horizontal bore in which a tube 21 and its contained parts aremounted. ".he tube 21 has a longitudinal bore 22, two

A plunger. 14 has a spindle 15, which enters a socket made diametricallyopposite longitudinal slots 23, I

and two circular holes 24 near its end and directed diametrically and atright angles to said slots 23, as indicated most plainly in Fig. 7. Oneend of said tube is concentrically reduced, as seen at 25, and isprovided with. a circumferential groove 26. A cylindrical bar 27 ismounted movably in the bore 22 of the tube 21, and its end 28 isscrew-threaded. Said bar has an elongated diametrical slot 29 throughit. For about one-half its length said bar 27 has a tubular socket 30,and

' through said tubular part there are two diametrically oppositelongitudinal slots 31 and two transverse circular holes 32, directed atright angles with said slots 31. A tube 33 is movably mounted in thetubular socket 30 of the cylindrical bar 27 and is provided with twodiametrically opposite longitudinal slots 34 and two diametricallyopposite circular holes 34. A cylindrical rod 35 or plug is movablymounted in the tube 33 and has a transverse diametrical circular hole 36through it. A cap 37 has a knurled head 38, a tubular socket 39, ascrew-threaded bore 40, and a chamber 41, all concentric'with eachother. The extension 19 of the plunger has the diametrically oppositeslots seen at 42. These parts (shown separated in Fig. 7) are assentbicdas follows, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4: The locking-pin passesthrough the slots 23 of the tube 21 and through the slots 31 of thetubular portion 30 of the bar 27 and through the slots 34 of the tube 33and through the hole 360i the rod 35. The cylindrical bar 27 passesthrough the tube 21, and its screw-threaded end 28 engages with thescrewthreaded bore 40 of the cap 37 and projects into the chamber 41 ofsaid cap. The reduced end of the tube 21 enters loosely the socket 39 ofthe cap 37, and a screw 43 through one side of the cap has its inner endprojecting into the circumferential groove 26 of the end of the tube 21.

A horizontal locking-pin 44 passes through the holes 32 of the tubularportion of the cylindrical bar 27 and through the holes 34" ofthe tube33. A bolt45 has screw-threaded ends and passes through the slots 13 ofthe sides 10 of the base 1 and through the slots 42 of the rearextension 19 of the plunger 14 and through the holes 24 of the tube 21and through the slots 29 of the cylindrical bar 27. On the ends of thebolt 45 are the nuts 46 and the washers 47, the latter being of a widthexceeding the width ofthe slot 13.

In the guideway 6 onthe two beveled sides thereof there are guide-plates48, extending down longitudinally therein and held in position by theadj listing-screws 49. The plunger 14 slides in contact with theseplates, as seen in Figs. 2, 4, and 5. 1

A feed-rod 50 has a head 51, through which is a transverse hole.A-rod-holder 52 has a tubular socket for the reception of the head 51 ofthe feed-rod 50, and extending axially therefrom is a hinge member 53. Aplug 54, having a handle, passes through holes made in the holder 52therefor and through the transverse hole in the feed-rod, as seen inFigs. 5 and 6. 1n the socket in the holder 52 is a spiral spring 55. Onthe rod 50 is slidably mounted the tube 56, which is to be cut intorings by the operation of the machine.

A standard 57 is movably mounted on the bench or other proper supportand is provided with two upright parallel cars 58, constituting a hingemember, between which the hinge member 53 is loosely inserted. The hingemembers 53 58 58 are pivotally connected by a pintle 59.

A keeper 66 is pivotally mounted at 61 to the standard 5 of the machineand has a slot 62 at its free end which is adapted to receive a studors'crew 63, extending from the standard 5, as seen in Figs. 1, 3, and5. The keeper has a central round aperture 64, through which thefeed-rod 50 extends with the tube 56.

The standard 57 has a horizontal bore near the bottom, in which theguide-rod 4 is loosely mounted, and a set-screw 65, passing through ahole tapped therefor inthe standard 57, holds said rod 4 in its,adjusted position.

Having thus described the parts of said machine. I will now explain itsoperation.

Atube 56, which is to be operated upon by the machine for the purpose ofcutting the same into short sections or rings 9, Fig. 9, is mounted onthe feed-rod 50, which sh uld have a diameter of such measurement as totill the bore of said tube 56, but just allowing the tube 56 to he slidthereon, as seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 8.' The tube 56 fits slidably,but closely, in the cutter or collar 7 of the standard 5 and also in thecutter or collar 18 of the plunger 14. The inner end of the feed-rod 50must be in abutment with the outer end of the cylindric'al rod or plug35, as seen in 1, 2, and 8. The parts of the machine, the feedrod, andthe tube 56 are at the beginning of the operation in the positionsillustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 8. The plunger 14 now descends with poweras the press is driven downward in the usual and well-known manner, andthus the cutter or collar 18 is forced down and with a shearing actionagainst the inner edge of the cutter or collar 7 and cuts the tube 56011' transversely on the line marked 70 w in Fig. 8. The cut-ofiportion, constituting the ring 9, is carried down on the outer end of jthe cylindrical rod or plug 35 and is ejected from the machine, asrepresented in Fig. 3, as will be presently explained. The width of thesection or ring9 to be so cut is regulated by the screw-cap 37. As theknurled head 38 of said cap is turned the screw-threaded end 28 of thecylindrical bar 27, being held from rotation' by the bolt 45, whichpasses through the slot 29 of said bar, is drawn or extended accordingto whichever direction the head 38 is rotated, thus moving the bar 27longitudinally to the desired extent. The tube 21, however, is notturned by such rotation of the screw-cap 37, because the screw 43 simplyvertical portions of the slots: 13 in the sides of the base 1 until saidbolt 45 comes to the singularly-directed portion of said slots. Theangularly-directed portion of said slots 13 serve as cam-surfaces, andso the bolt 45 noves forward and follows down to the bottom of saidslots 13. The result is that the 2 bolt 45, extending as it does throughthe holes 24 of the tube 21, moves said tube 21 forward, but slidesalong the slot 29 of the bar 27 and also slides along the slots 42'ofthe rear extension 19. The tube 21, which, as shown in Fig. 1, was insuch position that the forward end of its slots 23 were in abutmentagainst the locking-pin 20, moves to the position shown in Fig. 3, wherethe rear end of the slots 23 are in abutment with the locking-pin 20,and the tubes 30 and 33, which, as shown in Fig. 1, had their slots 31and 34 in such position that the locking-pin passes through said slotsabout midway their length, move to the positions shown in Fig. 3, wheresaid slots 31 and 34 have their rear ends in abutment with thelocking-pin 20, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The horizontal locking-pin44, as shown in Fig; 1, extends through the holes 32 of the tube andthroughthe holes 34 of the tube 33, so that the tubes 30 and 33 movetogether as the bolt when coming to the lowest portion of the slots 13brings all these tubes to the position shown in Fig. 3, where it is seenthat the bar 27 has moved forward and the tube 33, which is seated inthe socket of the tubular part 30 of said bar and connected therewith bythe locking-pin 44, is moved from the position illustrated in Figs. 1and 8, where its forward end is in the line 10 w, to the advan'cedposition shown in Fig. 3. In other words, the tube 33 is thus slidoutwardly on the rod 35, so as to project therefrom in front, and thusthe ring 9 is forcibly pushed off of the rod 35, as seen in Fig. 3. Therise of the plunger 14 and its connected rearward extension carries theparts back from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown inFig. 1, and then the tube 56 is fed to the machine along the rod again,and another ring is cut in the same manner.

The keeper 60 serves to confine the cutter or collar 7 in position, ascan be understood by examining Figs. 1, 3, and 5. hen it is desired toremove said cutter or collar 7, as when a tube 56 of a differentdiameter is used, the keeper 6() is lifted from the stud 62 and swung upand over out of the way, thus giving access to the cutter or collar 7for the purpose of such removal. When another cutter or collar 7 is putin operative position, the keeper 60 is swung down and over the outerend thereof and holds it from displacement. The cutter or collar 18 canbe removed from the plunger 14 when said plunger is in the po- -.'sitionshown in Fig. 3.

The width of the ring 9 tobe out can never cut into rings or ferrules ofthe desired length and absolutely without any wast For this reason themachine is well ada pted to make seamless finger-rings from solid-goldtubes or from gold-plated tubes or tubes or pipes of any metal.

It is obvious that instead of having one cutting-collar mounted in afixed support and the other cutting-collar mounted in averticallymovable support either or both of said supports may berotatable or otherwise movable.

I claim as a novel and useful invention and desire to secure by LettersPatent- 1. in a. tube-cutting machine, the combination of twoproperly-mounted supports, tubular cutters mounted therein respectivelywith their cutting edges capable of shearing action, a cylindrical rodloosely mounted in each of said tubular cutters with their contiguousends in alinement with each other and with the working edges of saidcutters, and means for moving either or both said supports,substantially as described.

2. In a tube-cutting machine, the combination of a cutting-collarmounted in a fixed standard and a cutting-collar mounted in a movablesupport in shearing contact with the first-named collar and acylindrical rod loosely mounted in each of said collars adapted tosupport the tube which is to be cut and with their contiguous ends inalinement with the contiguous ends of said collars, substantially asspecified.

3. In a tube-cutting machine, the combination of a cutting-collarmounted in a fixed support, a plunger movable in suitable ways, acutting-collar mounted in said plunger with its working edge in linewith the working edge of the first-named collar and a cylindrical rod ineach of said collars adapted to support a tube which is to be cut andthe contiguous ends of which rods are in line with the work- 7 ing edgesof said collars, substantially as shown.

4. In a tube-cutting machine, the combination of a fixed support havinga transverse circular aperture, a detachable cutting-collar mounted insaid aperture, a plunger movable in suitable ways and provided with atransverse circular aperture, a detachable cuttingcolla': mounted insaid aperture of the plunger, with the working edge of the last-namedcutting-collar in alinement with the working edge of the first-namedcutting-collar and a cylindrical rod in each of said collars adapted tosupport a tube which is to be cut and with. the contiguous ends of saidrodsin alinement with the working edges of said collars, "substantiallyas described.

5. In a tube-cutting machine, the combination of a fixed suppor't havinga transverse circular aperture, a detachable cutting-collar mounted insaid aperture,a pivotally-mounted V keeper on said support adapted toconline said aperture of the plunger, with the working edge of thelast-named cutting-collar in alinement with the working edge of thefirst-named 1 collar, and a cylindrical rod in each of said collarsadapted to support a tube to be cut and with the contiguous ends of saidrods in alinement with the working edges of said collars, substantiallyas described.

6. In a. tube-cutting machine, the combination of a fixed support havinga transverse circular aperture, a cutting-collar mounted in saidaperture, a head having a vertical guideends against said plates, aplunger mounted I movably in said guideway between said plates way, twodetachable guide-plates on both sides of said guideway, adjusting-screwspassing through said head and hearing at their inner and provided with atransverse circular aperture, a cutting-collar mounted in the apertureof the plunger, with its working edge in alinement with the worki ngedgeof the first-named collar, and a cylindrical rod in each collar adaptedto support a tube to be cut and with the contiguous ends of said rods inalinement with the working edges of said collars, sub- 7 stantially asspecified.

7. In a tube cutting machine, the combinaitionof afixed support, acutting-collar mountedtherein, a head having a g'uideway, a plungermounted in said guideway, a cutting-collar mounted in said plunger withits working edge in alinement with the working edge of .45

the first-named collar, a cylindrical rod mounted in the first-namedcollar with its inner end in alineme'nt with the working edge of thefirst-named collar and adapted to support slidably a. tube to be cutinto rings, a cylindrical rod mounted in the second-named collar withits outer end in alinement with the working edge of the second-namedcollar and adapted to supportslida-bly said tube, and means adapted toadjust said tube on said rods for regulating the width of the ring to becut, sub-,

stantially as describe 8. In a tube-cutting machine, thecombination of afixed support, a cutting-collar mounted therein, a head havingaguideway, a plunger mounted in said guideway, a cutting-col lar mountedin said plunger, a cylindrical rod in each of saidcollars, adapted -tosupport a tube to be cut into ring-sections, the contiguous ends ofwhich rods as also the working edges of which collars are all in thesame plane, and means adapted to meet the ringsection from the machineafter the cuttingoperation, substantially as described.

9. In a tube-cutting machine, the combination of a fixed support, acutting-collar mounted therein, a movable member, a cutting-collarmounted therein in shearing contact with the first-named collar, acylindrical rod in each collar adapted to support the tube which is tobe cut into ring-sections, said rods having their contiguous ends andsaid tubes havmg their shearing edges all in the same plane,

and means adapted to remove the ring-section from the machine after thecutting operation, substantially as specilied.

10. In atube-cutting machine, the combina with its working edge invalinement with the working edge of the first-named collar, a rearwardextension of aid plunger having a transverse aperture, two uprightparallel sides on said base and provided each with a curved slot, acylindrical rod in the firstnamed collar adapted to support a tube whichis to be cut into ring-sections and having its inner end in alinementwith the working edge of: first-named collar, a cylindrical rod in thesecond-named collar adapted to support said tube and having its outerend in alinernent with the working edge of the second-named collar, aholder for holding said second-named rod and a bolt passing through saidholder and through the transverse aperture of the rearward extension ofthe plunger and through the curved slots of said two upright sides,substantially as described.

11. In' a tube-cutting machine, the combination of a movable plungerproperly mounted and having a rearward extension which has a transverseaperture, a 'collar mounted in said plunger, a basewith two parallelupright sides transverse holes and also two opposite longitudinal slotsand provided with a concentrically-reduced end which iscircumferentially grooved and fits in the socket of the screwcap, ascrew through one side of the socketed portion of the screw-cap andhaving its inner end loosely projecting into the circumferential grooveof said tube, a cylindrical bar loosely mounted in the last-named tubeand provided with a socket at one end which has two opposite roundtransverse holes and two opposite longitudinal slots through itssocketed portions and also a longitudinal slot through its solid portionand also provided at its solid end with screw-threads whereby said IIO771,752 I a i B bar is engageable in said screw-cap, atube mounted inthe last-named socket and provid ed with two opposite round transverseholes and two opposite longitudinal slots, a cylindrical rod having aroar itransverse-hole and I in the solid part of the cylindricalbar,alocking-pin passing through the round transverse holes of the socketedportion of said bar and through the round transverse holes of thesecond-named tube, and a locking-pin passing 1 through the rearwardextension of the plunger and through the slots of the first-na'medtubeand through the longitudinal slots of the sock- 1 eted portion of saidcylindrical bar and through the longitudinal slots of the secondnamedtube and through the transverse hole of said cylindrical rod,substantially as described.

12. In a tube-cutting machine having a plunger and cutting devices, thecombination therewith of a feed -rod adapted to support. and present tothe machine the tube which is to be cut, a standard, a holder for saidfeed-rod pivotally connected with said standard and adapted to receivedetachahly said feed-rod, and a guide-rod movably mounted at one end insaid machine and loosely and adjustably mounted at its opposite end insaid standard, substantially as described. 1

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK R. STAFFORD.

Witnesses: I

Josnru A Touch, WARREN 1t. PERCE-

